N.D. agency holding public hearings on aging plan

March 22, 2014

BISMARCK The N.D. Department of Human Services' Aging Services Division is hosting statewide public hearings to review comments received from a recent online survey addressing programs and services that help older individuals and adults with physical disabilities remain living independently in their homes and communities.

Individuals are invited to participate in these meetings. Meetings will be held in various locations across the state including Valley City, Belcourt, Surrey, Williston, New Town and Dickinson.

The meeting in Belcourt will be held March 31, 12:30 to 2 p.m., at the Turtle Mountain Retirement Home. The meeting in Surrey will be held April 1, 12:45 to 2:15 p.m., at the Surrey Senior Center. The meeting in Williston will be held April 2, noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Williston Senior Center. The meeting in New Town will be held April 3, 10 to 11:30 a.m., in the Northern Lights Building.

"The comments we gather will help us update North Dakota's State Plan on Aging, which describes our priorities and the services we support with our federal Older Americans Act dollars," said Jan Engan, Aging Services Division director.

Individuals unable to attend the public hearings can submit written comments by May 7 to the N.D. Department of Human Services' Aging Services Division at 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 6, Bismarck, N.D., 58501.

Additional public hearings are scheduled in late April and early May for Bismarck, Fort Yates, St. Michael, Devils Lake, Grand Forks and Fargo. Following the completion of the 12 public meetings, the draft state plan will be finalized in June and then submitted to the federal Administration on Aging for approval.